Thursday, March 14
8:05 pm
Montana State University
vs
NORTHERN COLO. at Missoula
Paul Egwuonwu and the Bobcats face Northern Colorado in Missoula Thursday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Ready to Battle Bears in Big Sky Tourney
3/12/2013 10:48:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Missing starters nothing new in 2012-13, but MSU ready for post-season
Scramble mode is nothing new for the 2012-13 Bobcats. So heading into the post-season with only one missing starter - senior forward Xavier Blount's foot injury last week in practice likely ended his campaign - seems sort of normal to Bobcat coach Brad Huse.
MSU Game Notes vs. NC
"We feel bad for Xavier," says MSU's seventh-year head coach. "You don't ever want to see that kind of thing, and his passion on the court has been a big part of our program. But we've faced a lot of this kind of thing over the course of the year, and our guys compete hard. This week won't be any different."
This week brings with it the 2012-13 post-season, without Blount but with guard Christian Moon and forward Flavien Davis, each chosen All-Big Sky Honorable Mention on Monday, and center Paul Egwuonwu. All three have missed considerable time this season, but when those three are in the starting lineup and healthy MSU is 11-6.
And that's not even factoring in absences of Antonio Biglow and, currently Blount. But with its presently-assembled lineup MSU has held four straight foes to sub-50% shooting, and is +4 in rebound margin in the last six games.
Quietly, Paul Egwuonwu has become a force in the middle for MSU. The athletic big man has 71 points and 58 rebounds in the last six games. On the perimeter, electric guard Antonio Biglow has been among the top 100 in steals per game since his return to the lineup about six weeks ago, and scored 40 points in the last two games.
In Northern Colorado, the Bobcats also face a team with a strong inside-outside combination. Guard Tate Unruh is among the best three-point shooters in the nation, while Derrick Barden is an undersized but explosive inside player who dominates games.
"At this time of year it's really about players making plays," Huse said. "We'll have some new wrinkles ready Thursday and so will they, but there's so much familiarity after two meetings, so much video, that there aren't any real surprises. It's about the players going out and playing."
Tipoff for Thursday's MSU-Northern Colorado game is 8 pm in Missoula's Dahlberg Arena.
MSU Game Notes vs. NC
"We feel bad for Xavier," says MSU's seventh-year head coach. "You don't ever want to see that kind of thing, and his passion on the court has been a big part of our program. But we've faced a lot of this kind of thing over the course of the year, and our guys compete hard. This week won't be any different."
This week brings with it the 2012-13 post-season, without Blount but with guard Christian Moon and forward Flavien Davis, each chosen All-Big Sky Honorable Mention on Monday, and center Paul Egwuonwu. All three have missed considerable time this season, but when those three are in the starting lineup and healthy MSU is 11-6.
And that's not even factoring in absences of Antonio Biglow and, currently Blount. But with its presently-assembled lineup MSU has held four straight foes to sub-50% shooting, and is +4 in rebound margin in the last six games.
Quietly, Paul Egwuonwu has become a force in the middle for MSU. The athletic big man has 71 points and 58 rebounds in the last six games. On the perimeter, electric guard Antonio Biglow has been among the top 100 in steals per game since his return to the lineup about six weeks ago, and scored 40 points in the last two games.
In Northern Colorado, the Bobcats also face a team with a strong inside-outside combination. Guard Tate Unruh is among the best three-point shooters in the nation, while Derrick Barden is an undersized but explosive inside player who dominates games.
"At this time of year it's really about players making plays," Huse said. "We'll have some new wrinkles ready Thursday and so will they, but there's so much familiarity after two meetings, so much video, that there aren't any real surprises. It's about the players going out and playing."
Tipoff for Thursday's MSU-Northern Colorado game is 8 pm in Missoula's Dahlberg Arena.
Thursday, March 03
Friday, November 05
Monday, November 01
Sunday, October 31
